Method for implementing picture-in-picture function for multiple computers

• US 6,373,500 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1999
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mei California, Inc. (Micron Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Daniels, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): Razavi, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAVAN, THU THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/377,069
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 345/115, 345/114, 345/435, 345/302, 345/433, 345/421, 345/1, 345/3, 345/632, 345/633, 345/634, 345/717, 345/718, 345/723, 345/748, 345/753, 345/754, 345/1.1, 348/565, 348/564, 348/563, 348/553, 348/552
• US Class Current: 345/632
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04

Abstract

An apparatus simultaneously displays the output of two or more computers on a single monitor in a manner similar to the manner in which television sets provide picture-in-picture (PIP) viewing. In one embodiment, computer video is converted to a format such as NTSC so that existing television set PIP circuits may be employed with little or no modification. In another embodiment, the PIP circuit accepts computer video inputs. In yet another embodiment, the apparatus utilizes a processor to control the content of the main display area and PIP window using cursor position. The apparatus also supplies input device signals, such as mouse and keyboard signals, to the computer corresponding to the main screen area and transmits dummy keyboard and mouse signals to other computers attached to the system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying computer display information from at least two computers on a single monitor in a picture-in-picture format comprising:

a plurality of inputs for receiving computer display information from a plurality of computers;

a picture-in-picture circuit connectable to a monitor and connected to the inputs for outputting a display signal to the monitor in a picture-in-picture format with a main area and a picture-in-picture window; and

a signal provider connected to the picture-in-picture circuit and connectable to an input device, the signal provider being adapted to supply signals from the input device to a first computer whose display information is displayed in the main area and to supply dummy signals to a second computer whose display information is displayed in the picture-in-picture window.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer display information comprises computer video.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inputs convert computer display information from computer video format to NTSC format.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inputs convert computer display information from computer video format to PAL format.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal provider comprises a distribution circuit, the distribution circuit supplying dummy signals to each of the plurality of computers connected to the apparatus other than the first computer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal provider comprises a controller supplying dummy signals to each of the plurality of computers connected to the apparatus other than the first computer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said controller includes a processor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device is a mouse.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device is a keyboard.

10. A method for displaying computer display information from at least two computers on a single monitor in picture-in-picture format, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving first display information from a first computer;

receiving second display information from a second computer;

displaying the first display information in a main screen area of the monitor; and

displaying the second display information in a picture-in-picture area of the monitor;

supplying input-device signals to the first computer; and

supplying dummy input-device signals to the second computer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the acts of receiving first and second display information include receiving first and second digital display information.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the acts of receiving first and second display information includes receiving first and second computer video.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

converting the computer video from the first and second computer to a different format.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of converting includes converting the computer video to NTSC format.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of converting includes converting the computer video to PAL format.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising switching the contents of the main screen area and the picture-in-picture area in response to a toggle signal.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising repositioning the picture-in-picture area in response to a reposition signal.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising resizing the picture-in-picture area in response to a resize signal.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising switching the displays to display the first display information in the picture-in-picture area and display the second display information in the main screen area.

20. A computer system comprising:

a first computer;

a second computer;

an input device;

a monitor; and

an apparatus connected to the first computer, the second computer, the input device and the monitor;

wherein the apparatus is operable to supply input signals from the input device to the first computer while causing information from the first computer to be displayed in a main screen area of the monitor and to supply dummy input signals to the second computer while causing information from the second computer to be displayed in a picture-in-picture area of the monitor.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the first computer and the second computer are connected to transmit computer video to the apparatus.

22. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the input device is a mouse.

23. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the input device is a keyboard.

24. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the monitor is a touch screen monitor.

25. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the apparatus includes a distribution circuit connected to the input device, the distribution circuit supplying the input signals from the input device to the computer corresponding to the information displayed in the main display area and transmits the dummy input signals to the computer corresponding to the information displayed in the picture-in-picture area.

26. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the apparatus includes a controller connected to the input device, the controller supplying the input signals from the input device to the computer corresponding to the information displayed in the main display area and transmits the dummy input signals to the computer corresponding to the information displayed in the picture-in-picture area.

27. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the controller includes a processor.

28. An apparatus for displaying computer display information from a first computer and a second computer on a single monitor in a picture-in-picture format comprising:

a first set of ports including a first display input adapted to receive first display information from the first computer and a first input device output port adapted to deliver input signals to the first computer;

a second set of ports including a second display input adapted to receive second display information from the second computer and a second input device output port adapted to deliver input signals to the second computer;

a third set of ports including a display output adapted to output a composite display signal to a monitor and an input device input port adapted to receive input signals from an input device;

a picture-in-picture circuit connected to the display output and adapted to generate the composite display signal wherein display information from the first and second display inputs is arranged in a picture-in-picture format with one of the first display information and the second display information displayed in a main area and the other of the first display information and the second display information displayed in a picture-in-picture window; and

a signal provider connected to the input device input port and the first and second input device output ports, the signal provider being adapted to supply the input signals from the input device to the first input device output port and supply dummy input signals to the second input device output port when the first display information is displayed in the main area, and to supply the input signals from the input device to the second input device output port and supply dummy input signals to the first input device output port when the second display information is displayed in the main area.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a fourth set of ports including a third display input adapted to receive first display information from a third computer and a third input device output port adapted to deliver input signals to the first computer.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the signal provider is adapted to supply dummy input signals to the third input device output port when the first display information and the second display information is displayed in the main area.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the picture-in-picture circuit is connected to the first, second, and third display inputs.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the composite display signal includes display information from the first, second, and third display inputs arranged in a picture-in-picture format with one of the first display information, the second display information, and the third display information displayed in a main area and each of the other two of the first display information, the second display information, and the third display information displayed in a separate picture-in-picture window.

33. A computer system comprising:

a first computer;

a second computer;

an input device;

a single monitor; and

an apparatus connected to the first computer, the second computer, the input device and the single monitor, the apparatus including;

a display output connected to the monitor;

an input device input port connected to the input device;

a first display input adapted to receive first display information from the first computer;

a first input device output port adapted to deliver input signals to the first computer;

a second display input adapted to receive second display information from the second computer;

a second input device output port adapted to deliver input signals to the second computer;

a picture-in-picture circuit connected to the display output and adapted to supply to the display output a composite display signal wherein display information from the first and second display inputs is arranged in a picture-in-picture format with one of the first display information and the second display information displayed in a main area and the other of the first display information and the second display information displayed in a picture-in-picture window; and

a signal provider connected to the input device input port and the first and second input device output ports, the signal provider being adapted to supply the input signals from the input device to the first input device output port and supply dummy input signals to the second input device output port when the first display information is displayed in the main area, and to supply the input signals from the input device to the second input device output port and supply dummy input signals to the first input device output port when the second display information is displayed in the main area.

34. An apparatus for displaying computer display information from at least two computers on a single monitor in a picture-in-picture format comprising:

a plurality of inputs for receiving computer display information from a plurality of computers;

a picture-in-picture means connectable to a monitor and connected to the inputs for outputting a display signal to the monitor in a picture-in-picture format with a main area and a picture-in-picture window; and

a signal means for supplying input-device signals from an input device to a first computer whose display information is displayed in the main area and to supply dummy input-device signals to a second computer whose display information is displayed in the picture-in-picture window.